Norway, Ireland and Spain. In the midst of the deadly war between Israel and Hamas, three European countries announced this Wednesday that they had initiated a process of recognition of the Palestinian state. “Today, Ireland, Norway and Spain announce that we recognize the State of Palestine,” declared Simon Harris, the Irish Prime Minister, hailing a “historic and important day for Ireland and for the Palestine.”
At the same time, Spanish President Pedro Sánchez announced to the deputies that “on May 28, Spain will adopt in the Council of Ministers the recognition of the Palestinian State”. He also accused his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu of endangering the two-state solution with his policy of “pain and destruction” in the Gaza Strip. Norway will also recognize the existence of a Palestinian state from May 28, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced on Wednesday.
Recall of ambassadors
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced the recall “for consultations” of its ambassadors in Ireland and Norway. These countries want to send “a message to the Palestinians and the whole world: terrorism pays,” responded the head of Israeli diplomacy. He described their approach as “twisted”, saying that it was an “injustice to the memory of the victims of October 7” and that it “undermined Israel’s right to self-defense”.